Jorge Araujo enters his third season as an assistant on the Cal State Fullerton softball staff where he will continue to be the recruiting coordinator and defensive specialist for the team. He will assist with all other aspects of the program including offensive, pitching and catching duties.

"I'm excited to take on this new role as I've established a true comfort level here at Fullerton," said Araujo. "I've already had the privilege of working alongside coach Ford, and we look toward attaining the same goals starting with a Big West Championship. With so much upside for this program, I look forward to a promising season for our student-athletes and support staff."

Over the summer, Araujo was a part of the softball Mexican National Team coaching staff, responsible for the development of the defense while leading drills and practices. The team competed in the Canadian Open Fast Pitch Invitational (July 15-21) in Surrey, B.C., picking up a victory over the Bloomington Lady Hearts, 7-2. Prior to the tournament in Canada, Team Mexico participated in the General Tire World Cup of Softball IX (July 7-13) in Irvine, Calif., finishing fifth among the seven-team field with victories over the Philippines, 7-0, and Venezuela, 1-0.

"As soon as this position became available, I knew the one person I wanted for this role, and it was coach Araujo," said Ford. "He is truly a defensive technician leading us to the best defensive fielding percentage in the Big West in 2013. Coach Araujo continues to bring new innovative fielding drills and strategies that are intangible for the growth of this program. He is an outstanding recruiter and his work ethic and professionalism is in comparison to none. I am honored to coach with him as this is an intricate piece to the bright future of Titan softball."

Individually, Araujo oversaw the first Big West Player of the Year for the program since 2006 in Missy Taukeiaho, who also played under Araujo in both high school and travel ball before competing at the collegiate level.

"I'm really happy to have coach Araujo as one of our leaders because his determination to win can be truly contagious," said Taukeiaho. "He pushes us to compete at the highest level in our quest for a conference championship and his direction can only help us be better every single day."

In his first season in 2013, Araujo helped the Titans close out the season winning 13 of their final 15 games, while finishing third in the Big West with a 28-28 overall record. With his help assisting the defense, Fullerton committed only 48 errors, the least amount in that category in program history.

Araujo served as a head coach for the Lakewood Firecrackers 18U-Gold squad in 2008-12 following six years as a head coach with the Lakewood Ladies Junior Olympic squad from 2003-08. During his tenure with the Firecrackers, Araujo helped lead the club to the ASA National Championship in 2008, a 2012 Triple Crown USA national title, and three ASA California State Championships.

He was also a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2007-12, also acting as the head varsity coach at Maywood Academy High School in Maywood, Calif., leading the Nighthawks to the City Section finals in 2012.

Collegiately, Araujo played two seasons of baseball at nearby Cal Poly Pomona as an infielder in 1988-89 after transferring from Rio Hondo Junior College. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a bachelor's degree in 1992.